Convertible fasel and table



July 2, 1963 D. c. KlLLEN 3,095,834

CONVERTIBLE EASEL AND TABLE Filed Jan. 3, 1962 E I l3 l5 INVENTOR buNcA/v c. KILLEN BY M aw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,095 834 CGNVERTIBLE EA SEL AND TABLE Duncan C. Killen, 2521 Durant Ave., Berkeley, Calif. Filed Jan. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 164,058 12 Claims. (Cl. 108-15) This invention relates to a convertible easel and table and more particularly to an easel that may be converted to a table suitable for painting with water colors or the like.

Easels are commonly used for painting with oils or the like where the work may be held in a substantially vertical position and various types of such easels have been constructed. However, it is often desirable to work on a substantially horizontal surface or a surface that is inclined a small amount from the horizontal. This is true when working with the water colors or in making certain types of drawings.

Accordingly it is a primary object of this invention to provide an easel which is easily converted into a table.

In its broad aspect, the invention embraces a number of easels which may be converted into a table. However, in its preferred form, the invention utilizes the easels described and claimed in my copending United States patent applications Serial No. 84,309 filed January 23, 1961 entitled Folding Easel and Serial No. 142,613 filed October 3, 1961 and entitled Wide Frame Folding Easel. The present application is a continuation-in-part of these copending applications.

Such easels preferably utilize a normally upright standard and a brace member which is adapted to assume a desired angle relative to the standard for holding the standard in position for use in supporting work. When the easel is converted into a table, the brace serves as a leg, and an additional leg assembly is combined with the easel to give the desired support.

Thus when the additional leg is added, and the easel is positioned as a table, the normally upright standard lies in a substantially horizontal or slightly inclined plane and holds the work in such a position. With this arrangement, the work is easily tilted slightly to allow the water color to run in a desired direction in order to achieve certain effects.

Therefore, it is an important object of the invention to provide a convertible easel in which the work is supported on a normally upright standard by suitable holding devices with the standard and accompanying holding devices being easily movable to a horizontal position whereby the work is held in a fashion particularly suitable for using Water colors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a con- 've-rtible easel of the character described in which means are provided for adjusting the tilt of the standard while in position for using water colors.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a convertible easel having legs hingedly attached to a nor mally upright standard in such a way that twisting of the legs relative to the standard is minimized.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a convertible easel and table in which the work piece or stretcher frame is held in such a way that the face is unobstructed and the artist is free to paint over the edge of the stretcher frame.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a convertible easel and table of the character described that is easily folded into a compact unit for transportation or storage thereof.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as the specification progresses, and the new and useful features of my convertible easel and table will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a convertible easel constructed according to the invention as it appears in position as an easel;

FIGURE 2, an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the easel shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating certain of the par-ts in better detail;

FIGURE 3, a fragmentary rear elevational view of the easel shown in FIGURE 1 further illustrating the parts shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4, a cross-sectional view taken in the plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, illustrating a clamp which may be used to strengthen the easel;

FIGURE 5, an elevational view of the easel of FIG- URE 1 as it appears when converted into a table suitable for working with water colors; and

FIGURE 6, an enlarged fragmentary view of the easel of FIGURE 5 illustrating certain of the parts in greater detail.

While -I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In its broad aspect, the invention provides a convertible easel and table through the combination of (1) an easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas and the like, and (2) a leg assembly adapted to be secured to a normally upright member of the easel and adapted to support the normally upright member in a substantially horizontal position so as to convert the easel to a table suitable for painting the canvas or the like with water colors.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seenthat my folding easel consists basically of a normally upright standard 11 having a flat front face 12 formed with an axially extending slot 13, a pair of elongated clamping devices 14 and 16 extending laterally across front face 12, and locking means 17 and 18 on devices '14 and 16, respectively, the means 17 and 18 being engageable with slot 13 and formed for adjustably securing the clamping devices to the standard 11 in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges 19 and 21, respectively, of a canvas-covered stretcher frame 22.

As here shown, the clamping devices 14 and 16 are similar in construction and, as may best be seen in FIG- URES 1 and 6, each includes an elongated bar 23 mounted on the standard '11 and extending laterally across the flat front face 12.

The bars 23 are of triangular cross-section with the base of the triangle providing a fiat face 24 in sliding contact with the front face 12 of the standard.

Carried on the bars 23 are elongated clamping members 26 of L-shaped cross-section. The confronting edges 27 of the members 26 are adapted for clamping engagement against the top and bottom sides 19 and 21 of the stretcher frame 22 upon movement of the clamping members 26 toward each other.

The clamping members 26 are urged toward each other by bolt means 28. 'Included in each of the means 28 is a bolt member 29 extending perpendicularly from the outer faces 31 of the bars 23 through the clamping members 26. Thumbscrews 32 are threaded on bolt members 29 so that tightening down of the thumbscrews will tend to displace the clamping members 26 toward each other.

Locking means is also provided for adjustably securing the clamping devices 14 and 16 at the proper vertical spacing to accommodate the frame 22 intended to be 3 clamped to the easel. This means includes bolt members 33 secured to and extending perpendicularly from the flat faces 24 of the bars 23 through the slot 13 in the standard 11. Thumbscrews 34 are threaded on the bolt members 33 and may be tightened down to clamp the bars 23 to the standard at the desired positions therealong.

The standard is preferably supported in the desired position for use as an easel by brace member 44 attached by means of binge 126 to the rear surface of the standard. The hinge is adjustable along the standard through movement of screw 127 which fits through slot 13 and holds the hinge clampingly against the standard by being tightened into threads in hinge 126. In its preferred form, the normally upright member 11 has a generally U-shaped cross-section to give added strength to the member.

An arm 47 is pivoted on the hinge at 48 and is formed with a slot 49 through which is engaged a bolt 59 having a thumbscrew S1 for locking the brace at a desired angle relative to the standard 11. In its preferred form, two arms are used, see FIGURE 3, in order to provide additional strength when the convertible easel is positioned as a table, although one brace is operative.

As a feature of my invention the easel will sit solidly on uneven surfaces and may be adjusted relative thereto to position the slot 13 in a vertical plane. This is accomplished by elongated foot members 53 and 54 for the standard 11 and brace 44, respectively, the foot members normally being perpendicular to the standard and brace but incorporating provisions for effecting independent tilting adjustment -so that each foot member will be in firm contact with the surface upon which the easel is resting.

The desired tilting action of the foot members is ob tained by pivoting them on bolts 56 projecting from the standard 11 and brace 44, respectively. Thumbscrews 57 are provided on the bolts for securing the members 53 and 54 in the desired positions. Bracket means 58 is also pro.- vided for rigidly securing the members 53 and 54 at the desired angles. Certain of these structures are further illustrated and described in my copending .applications cited above.

In order to convert the easel to a table, leg assembly 128 is added and brace 44 is positioned as shown in FIG- URE 5. The leg assembly 128 is here shown as being similar in construction to brace 44 and associated parts; however, it is apparent that various designs could be used and that the units might be the same or different. Thus leg assembly 128 comprises a leg 129 which is similar to brace 44, hinge 126 for pivotal attachment of the leg to the normally upright member, arms 47 serving as locking means for holding the hinge in a fixed angular position, and elongated foot 54 secured to the leg at the end opposite the hinge by means of bolt 56 and thumscrew 57. Hinge 126 is held on the member 11 by means of bolt 127 and adjustable along the slot to position the leg at any desired position along the length of the member 11.

An important feature of the invention is the rigidity of the table against rotation around the axis of normally upright standard 11. In the present invention, the table is somewhat yieldable so that the artist can tilt the table from side to side by applying the appropriate pressure and thereby control flow of water colors. At the same time, axial tilt of the normally upright standard 11 may also be efiected to control flow of water colors in any desired direction.

The rotation around the axis of the normally upright standard 11 is possible because the standard is supported by two supports, i.e. the brace 44 and the leg 129. Rigidity against free rotation is obtained by the manner of attachment of the brace and leg, and as here shown, the attachments are the same.

Thus in its preferred form, normally upright standard 11 has a U-shaped cross-section, and brace 44 and leg 129 have a width of substantially the distance between the legs of the U so as to be free to pivot in the plane defined by the normally upright standard 11 and the leg 129 and i brace 44 but restricted from movement in a direction outside said plane. The restriction from movement is not absolute and when force is applied the table may be twisted somewhat by putting internal stresses in the members involved. These stresses urge the table back in position when the force is released. In this way the restriction against movement is resilient.

In addition to the cooperation between the U-shaped member and attached leg and brace, more rigidity is obtained by using two arms 47 as best seen in FIGURE 3. The degree of rigidity may also be designed by the width of the U and brace and arm fitting therein according to the amount desired.

It is desirable to keep the size of the members to a minimum in order to make the unit more portable and less expensive. Thus it is preferred to keep the U as narrow as possible. In order to strengthen the attachment of the brace and leg against twisting while holding the width to a minimum, it is desirable to use bat clamps as best seen in FIGURE 4. These clamps serve to keep the legs of the U at the desired distance apart or keep the legs from spreading.

Bat clamp 110 generally comprises a plate having grooves or channels 113 therein and a threaded hole 114 into which belt 116 is screwed. Bolt 116 is fitted into slot 13 of normally upright standard 11 and carries washers 117 and sleeve 118 to bear against the appropriate sur faces as shown in FIGURE 4. Preferably the clamp is tightened in the vicinity of hinge 126 of the brace or hinge 126 of the leg or both. While the clamp is particularly useful when the easel is used as a table, it is also valuable for strengthening when the unit is used as an easel.

One of the advantages of the unit resides in its portability. As explained more fully in my copending applications cited above, the unit may be folded up for transporting or storage thereof. In order to assist in folding the unit, cutaway 119 may be added to normally upright standard 11 as shown, if desired, to allow easy fitting of thumbscrew 51 when the brace is folded against normally upright standard 11.

In order to convert the unit from an easel to a table, leg assembly 123 is added, brace 44 is adjusted toward the end of normally upright standard 11 along slot 13, and the unit positioned as shown in FIGURE 5. Leg 53 may be removed or left in place as desired. In order to convert the unit back to an easel, the steps are simply carried out in reverse.

Adjustment of the height of the table is accomplished through adjustment of the length of arms 47, and the arms held at such adjustment by tightening thumbscrew 51. Foot 54 on the brace carries toes 121 which may be made of rubber or the like, while foot 54 of leg 129 carries rollers 122. With this construction, the artist may adjust the angle of leg 129 with his foot to control the tilt of normally upright standard 11 while simultaneously forcing the table sideways to control the direction the water colors run.

I claim:

1. A convertible easel and table containing in combination (1) an easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas and the like, comprising a normally upright standard having a flat front face formed with an axially extending slot, a brace hingedly attached to the rear side of said standard, means for fastening said hingedly attached brace at a desired angle relative to said standard, and an elongated foot member mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said stand ard and brace; and (2) a leg assembly adapted to be secured to the normally upright standard of the easel in the slot thereof and adapted to support the normally upright standard in a substantially horizontal position, said leg assembly comprising a leg, a hinge on said leg adapted to pivotally secure the leg to the normally upright standard, locking means for holding the hinge in a fixed angular position, and a foot on said leg secured at the end opposite the hinge.

2. A convertible easel and table containing in combina-, tion (1) an easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas and the like, comprising a normally upright standard having a flat front face formed with an axially extending slot, a brace hingedly attached to the rear side of said standard, means for fastening said hinge edly attached brace at a desired angle relative to said standard, and an elongated foot member mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard and brace; and (2) a leg assembly adapted to be secured to the normally upright standard of the easel in the slot thereof and adapted to support the normally upright standard in a substantially horizontal position, said leg assembly comprising a leg, a hinge on sa1d leg adapted to pivotally secure the leg to the normally uprlght standard, locking means for holding the hinge in a fixed angular position, a foot on said leg secured at the end opposite the hinge, and rollers on said foot for allowing easy movement of the leg whereby the tile of the table may be controlled by the artist.

3. A convertible easel and table containing in combination 1) an easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas and the like, comprising a normally upright standard having a flat front face with an axially extending slot and having a generally U-shaped cross-section, a brace hingedly attached to the rear side of the front face of the normally upright standard through said slot for axial adjustment of said attachment, said brace being of a width that fits closely within the U of the normally upright standard in such a manner that it is free to PlVQl'. in the plane defined by the normally upright standard and the brace but sulficiently tight to restrict movement 1n a direction outside said plane, means for fastening said hingedly attached brace at a desired angle relative to sa1d standard; and an elongated foot member mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard and brace; and (2) a leg assembly adapted to be secured to the normally upright standard of the easel in the slot thereof and adapted to support the normally upright standard in a substantially horizontal position, said leg assembly comprising a leg adapted to fit within the U of the normally upright standard and having a width of substantially the distance between the legs of the U so as to be free to pivot in the plane defined by the normally upright standard and the leg but restricted from movement in a direction outside said plane, a hinge on said leg adapted to pivotally secure the leg to the normally upright standard, locking means for holding the hinge in a fixed angular position, and a foot on sa1d leg secured at the end opposite the hinge.

4. A convertible easel and table containing in combination (1) an easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas and the like, comprising a normally upright standard having a fiat face formed with an axially extending slot, a pair of elongated clamping devices extending laterally across said face, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and for-med for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, a brace hingedly attached to the rear side of said standard, means for fastening said hingedly attached brace at a desired angle relative to said standard, and an elongated foot member mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard and brace; and (2) a leg assembly adapted to be secured to the normally upright standard of the easel in the slot thereof and adapted to support the normally upright standard in a substantially horizontal position, said leg assembly comprising a leg, a hinge on said leg adapted to pivotally secure the leg to the normally upright standard, locking means for holding the hinge in a fixed angular position, and an elongated foot member on said leg secured at the end opposite the hinge.

5. A convertible easel and table containing in combination (1) an easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas and the like, comprising a normally upright standard having a flat face formed with an axially extending slot, a pair of elongated clamping devices extending laterally across said face, locking means on said devices engaging said slot and formed for adjustably securing said devices to said standard in clamping engagement against the top and bottom edges of the stretcher frame, a brace hingedly attached to the rear side of the front face of the normally upright standard through said slot for axial adjustment of said attachment, said brace being of -a width that fits closely within the U of the normally upright standard in such a manner that it is free to pivot in the plane defined by the normally upright standard and the brace but sulficiently tight to restrict movement in a direction outside said plane, means for fastening said hingedly attached brace at a desired angle relative to said standard, and an elongated foot member mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard and brace; and (2) a leg assembly adapted to be secured to the normally upright standard of the easel in the slot thereof and adapted to support the normally upright standard in a substantially horizontal position, said leg assembly comprising a leg adapted to fit Within the U of the normally upright standard and having a width of substantially the distance between the legs of the U so as to be free to pivot in the plane defined by the normally upright standard and the leg but restricted from movement in a direction outside said plane, a hinge on said leg adapted to pivotally secure the leg to the normally upright standard, locking means for holding the hinge in a fixed angular position, and a foot on said leg secured at the end opposite the hinge.

6. The convertible easel and table defined in claim 5, in which there are also included rollers on said foot for allowing easy movement of the leg whereby the tilt of the table maybe controlled by the artist.

7. The convertible easel and table defined in claim 5, in which there is also included at least one bat clamp on the normally upright standard to strengthen the U-shaped configuration thereof to hold its shape at the points of attachment of the leg and brace.

8. The convertible easel and table defined in claim 5, in which the means for fastening the hingedly attached brace at the desired angle includes a first pair of arms pivotally attached at each side of the normally upright standard and adjustably secured to each side of the brace, and in which the locking mean-s for holding the hinge at the desired angle on the leg includes a second pair of arms pivotally attached to the hinge at each side thereof and adjustably secured to each side of the leg.

9. A convertible easel and table containing in combination (1) an easel for supporting the stretcher frame of an artists canvas and the like, comprising a normally upright standard having a fiat front face with an axially extending slot and having a generally U-shaped crosssection, a pair of elongated bars mounted on said standard and extending laterally across said front face, each of said bars being of triangular cross-section with the base of the triangle in sliding contact with said front face of the standard, means for securing said bars to said standard in adjustable spaced relation, elongated clamping mem bers of L-shaped cross-section carried on said bars and having confronting edges adapted for clamping engagement with the stretcher frame upon movement of said clamping members toward each other, the confronting edges of said clamping members being formed to provide confronting longitudinal sharp edges adapted for engaging the stretcher fname in spaced relation to the front surface of the canvas whereby the artist may extend his brush strokes past the edges of the canvas, bolt means extending perpendicularly from the outer faces of said bars through said clamping members and formed for urging aoeassa said clamping members toward each other, abrace hingedly attached to the rear side of the front face of the normally upright standard through said slot for axial adjustment of said attachment, said brace being of a width that fits closely within the U of the normally upright standard in such a manner that it is free to pivot in the plane defined by the normally upright standard and the brace but sufliciently tight to restrict movement in a direction outside said plane, means for fastening said hingedly attached brace at a desired angle relative to said standard, and an elongated foot member mounted on and extending transversely across the lower end of said standard and brace; and (2) a leg assembly adapted to be secured to the normally upright standard of the easel in the slot thereof and adapted to support the normally upright standard in a substantially horizontal position, said leg assembly comprising a leg adapted to fit within the U of the normally upright standard and having a Width of substantially the distance between the legs of the U so as to be free to pivot in the plane defined by the normally upright standard and the leg but restricted horn movement in a direction outside said plane, a hinge on said leg adapted to pivotally secure the leg to the normally upright standard, locking means for holding the hinge in a fixed angular position, and a foot on said leg secured at the end opposite the hinge.

10. The convertible easel and table defined in claim 9, in which there are also included rollers on said foot for 8 allowing easy movement of the leg whereby the tilt of the table may be controlled by the artist.

11. The convertible easel and table defined in claim 9, in which there is also included at least one bat clamp on the normally upright standard to strengthen the 'U-shaped configunation thereof to hold its shape at the points of attachment of the leg and brace.

12. The convertible easel and table defined in claim 9, in which the means for fastening the hingedly attached brace at the desired angle includes a first pair of arms pivotally attached at each side of the normally upright standard and adjustably secured to each side of the brace, and in which the locking means for holding the hinge at the desired angle on the leg includes a second pair of arms pivotally attached to the hinge at each side thereof and adjustably secured to each side of the leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CONVERTIBLE EASEL AND TABLE CONTAINING IN COMBINATION (1) AN EASEL FOR SUPPORTING THE STRETCHER FRAME OF AN ARTIST''S CANVAS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A NORMALLY UPRIGHT STANDARD HAVING A FLAT FRONT FACE FORMED WITH AN AXIALLY EXTENDING SLOT, A BRACE HINGEDLY ATTACHED TO THE REAR SIDE OF SAID STANDARD, MEANS FOR FASTENING SAID HINGEDLY ATTACHED BRACE AT A DESIRED ANGLE RELATIVE TO SAID STANDARD, AND AN ELONGATED FOOT MEMBER MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE LOWER END OF SAID STANARD AND BRACE; AND (2) A LEG ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE NORMALLY UPRIGHT STANDARD OF THE EASEL IN THE SLOT THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE NORMALLY UPRIGHT STANDARD IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION, SAID LEG ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LEG, A HINGE ON SAID LEG ADAPTED TO PIVOTALLY SECURE THE LEG TO THE NORMALLY UPRIGHT STANDARD, LOCKING MEANS FOR HOLDING THE HINGE IN A FIXED ANGULAR POSITION, AND A FOOT ON SAID LEG SECURED AT THE END OPPOSITE THE HINGE. 